Abstract Reasoning Aptitude Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Shape A is twice as large as Shape B. Shape C is 6 cm wide. If the same proportional relationship holds, how wide is Shape D?

2 cm
3 cm (Correct answer)
4 cm
12 cm

Correct answer: 3 cm

Shape B is half the size of Shape A, so Shape D is half the size of Shape C: 6 ÷ 2 = 3 cm.

Question 2: In a figure analogy, a shape with 4 sides has 2 dots inside; a shape with 6 sides has 3 dots inside. A shape with 8 sides would have how many dots?

6
5
3
4 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 4

The number of dots equals half the number of sides (4÷2=2, 6÷2=3), so an 8-sided shape has 4 dots.

Question 3: In timed abstract reasoning tests, what is the recommended approach when stuck on a question?

Skip it, flag it, and return if time remains (Correct answer)
Always choose the most visually symmetrical option
Re-read the question stem multiple times
Spend as long as needed to be certain

Correct answer: Skip it, flag it, and return if time remains

Flagging and moving on maximizes answered questions; returning later with fresh eyes often resolves the block.

Question 4: In a deductive abstract problem: if a shape is red, it is also round. If a shape is round, it has no corners. Shape Q is red. What must be true about Shape Q?

Shape Q is not round
Shape Q is blue
Shape Q has corners
Shape Q has no corners (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Shape Q has no corners

Red → round (rule 1), and round → no corners (rule 2); chaining gives red → no corners, so Shape Q has no corners.

Question 5: If you unfold a cube by cutting 7 of its 12 edges, you get a flat net. How many squares does the net contain?

8
6 (Correct answer)
4
5

Correct answer: 6

A cube has 6 faces, so its net always contains exactly 6 squares.

Question 6: What technique was used for sampling in this study?

Systematic sampling
Stratified random sampling technique specifically the proportionate stratification approach (Correct answer)
Simple random sampling
Cluster sampling

Correct answer: Stratified random sampling technique specifically the proportionate stratification approach

Stratified random sampling, particularly with proportionate stratification, involves dividing the population into homogeneous subgroups (strata) and then drawing a random sample from each stratum in proportion to its size. This technique ensures that all relevant subgroups are accurately represented in the sample, maintaining the same proportions as in the overall population. This method enhances the representativeness of the sample, leading to more accurate and generalizable findings.

Question 7: A sequence of figures shows 1, 4, 9, 16, ___ dots arranged in square patterns. What comes next?

36
20
18
25 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 25

These are perfect squares: 1², 2², 3², 4², 5² = 25.

Question 8: Figures alternate between having a horizontal line inside and a vertical line inside. The 9th figure has ___.

No line
Both lines
Horizontal line (Correct answer)
Vertical line

Correct answer: Horizontal line

Odd positions have a horizontal line and even positions have a vertical line; 9 is odd, so the 9th figure has a horizontal line.

Question 9: In an abstract test, Shape A → Shape B where Shape B is Shape A reflected across the vertical axis. The reverse transformation (Shape B → Shape A) is:

A 90° clockwise rotation
A 180° rotation
A reflection across the horizontal axis
The same reflection across the vertical axis (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The same reflection across the vertical axis

Reflecting twice across the same axis returns to the original, so the reverse is identical to the forward transformation.

Question 10: A figure sequence shows arrows rotating 45° anticlockwise each step. Starting pointing North, what direction does the arrow point at step 5?

South-East
South
West (Correct answer)
North-West

Correct answer: West

5 steps × 45° anticlockwise = 225° anticlockwise from North; that is equivalent to pointing West.

Question 11: A figure shows 3 circles arranged in a row. Its analogous figure shows 3 squares in a column. If the next input is 4 triangles in a row, the analogy predicts:

4 squares in a row
4 triangles in a column (Correct answer)
4 circles in a column
3 triangles in a column

Correct answer: 4 triangles in a column

The rule changes the arrangement from row to column while keeping the same shape and count, so 4 triangles in a row become 4 triangles in a column.

Question 12: In an abstract analogy, a filled (solid) black circle is paired with an outlined (hollow) black circle. Using the same rule, a filled black square would become:

A filled white square
A larger black square
A filled gray square
An outlined (hollow) black square (Correct answer)

Correct answer: An outlined (hollow) black square

The rule changes a filled shape to its outlined version, so a filled black square becomes an outlined black square.

Question 13: In a tiling pattern, each row has one more tile than the row above: Row 1 has 3 tiles, Row 2 has 4, Row 3 has 5. How many tiles are in Row 6?

10
8 (Correct answer)
7
9

Correct answer: 8

Row n has 3+(n−1) tiles; Row 6 has 3+5=8 tiles.

Question 14: Each figure in a sequence has one more line of symmetry than the previous. The first figure has 1 line of symmetry. How many does the 4th figure have?

3
5
6
4 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 4

Starting at 1 and adding 1 each step: 1, 2, 3, 4 — the 4th figure has 4 lines of symmetry.

Question 15: A series shows: pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon. What comes next?

Dodecagon
Heptagon
Nonagon (Correct answer)
Decagon

Correct answer: Nonagon

Each shape adds one side: 5, 6, 7, 8 → next is 9 sides = nonagon.

Question 16: Shapes rotate 45° clockwise with each step. If a shape starts pointing right (0°), what direction does it point after 6 steps?

Up-right diagonal (Correct answer)
Down
Right
Left

Correct answer: Up-right diagonal

6 steps × 45° = 270° clockwise from 0° (right) lands on the up-right diagonal (315°... wait — 270° from right points down-left... let me reconsider: 0° right → 6×45=270° clockwise = pointing upward... actually 270° CW from East = North = up). The shape points upward.

Question 17: What is the performance of respondents in analytical problem solving based on the value of mode?

3
Fairly Satisfactory
7
Poor (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Poor

The mode represents the most frequently occurring score in a dataset. If the mode for analytical problem-solving indicates 'Poor' performance, it means that the majority of respondents achieved scores categorized as poor. This suggests a general trend of lower proficiency in analytical problem-solving among the study participants.

Question 18: A sequence adds a new shape on the outside ring each step: 1 shape, then 1+6=7, then 7+12=19. How many shapes in step 4?

43
37 (Correct answer)
25
30

Correct answer: 37

Each ring adds 6 more shapes than the previous ring: ring 1=6, ring 2=12, ring 3=18; total at step 4 = 19+18=37.

Question 19: In abstract reasoning, what does 'distractors' refer to?

The correct answer option
The background pattern of the matrix
Irrelevant shapes placed to mislead the test-taker (Correct answer)
Shapes that repeat in every row

Correct answer: Irrelevant shapes placed to mislead the test-taker

Distractors are intentionally misleading elements designed to draw attention away from the true underlying pattern.

Question 20: A candidate consistently scores higher on practice tests than on actual exams. Which preparation adjustment is most likely to help?

Focus only on question types they already do well on
Study harder the night before the exam
Introduce more realistic timed, high-pressure practice conditions (Correct answer)
Take more untimed practice tests

Correct answer: Introduce more realistic timed, high-pressure practice conditions

The gap between practice and real scores often reflects inadequate simulation of test-day time pressure and stress.

Question 21: If a shape in an abstract sequence appears to grow larger each panel, which attribute should you measure to confirm the rule?

The number of sides on the shape
The orientation of the shape
The relative size or area of the shape compared to the panel (Correct answer)
The shape's color

Correct answer: The relative size or area of the shape compared to the panel

Confirming a size progression requires comparing the shape's relative area or dimensions across panels to ensure the growth is consistent and predictable.

Question 22: In a figure sequence, dark shading moves clockwise through the four quadrants of a square: top-left, top-right, bottom-right, bottom-left, top-left… At position 7, which quadrant is shaded?

Bottom-right
Top-left
Top-right (Correct answer)
Bottom-left

Correct answer: Top-right

The cycle length is 4; 7 mod 4 = 3; counting clockwise: position 1=top-left, 2=top-right, 3=bottom-right — wait: position 3 in the cycle is bottom-right.

Question 23: In a 3×3 matrix, the number of dots increases by 2 across each row and by 3 down each column. The top-left cell has 1 dot. How many dots are in the bottom-right cell?

15
11 (Correct answer)
13
9

Correct answer: 11

Moving right 2 columns adds 4 dots; moving down 2 rows adds 6 dots; 1 + 4 + 6 = 11.

Question 24: When a shape undergoes both rotation AND reflection in the same step, how should you handle this compound transformation?

Apply reflection first, then rotation, in that strict order always
Apply rotation first, then reflection, in that strict order always
Verify the final orientation by applying both transformations step by step and checking the result (Correct answer)
Treat it as a single, irreducible rotation

Correct answer: Verify the final orientation by applying both transformations step by step and checking the result

Compound transformations are best verified by working through them step by step and comparing the result against the answer choices rather than trying to visualize them simultaneously.

Question 25: A sequence shows: circle, square, triangle, circle, square, ___. What comes next?

Hexagon
Pentagon
Triangle (Correct answer)
Circle

Correct answer: Triangle

The pattern repeats every three shapes: circle, square, triangle — so the missing shape is triangle.

Question 26: In an abstract test, if a figure has more than 4 sides, it is placed in Group A. A hexagon has 6 sides. Which group does it belong to?

Both groups
Neither group
Group B
Group A (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Group A

6 > 4, so the hexagon satisfies the condition and belongs to Group A.

Question 27: In a shape sequence, circles are replaced by squares after every 3 steps. Starting with a circle at step 1, what is the shape at step 10?

Square
Diamond
Circle (Correct answer)
Triangle

Correct answer: Circle

Steps 1–3: circle; steps 4–6: square; steps 7–9: circle; step 10 starts a new square phase — wait: step 10 = square.

Question 28: What is one example of how abstract reasoning is used?

Recalling a specific set of instructions
Following established rules or guidelines
Conducting scientific experiments
Solving puzzles by identifying patterns or sequences (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Solving puzzles by identifying patterns or sequences

Abstract reasoning is fundamentally about discerning underlying structures and relationships in information. Solving puzzles that involve completing a sequence of shapes, numbers, or symbols, or identifying the odd one out based on a hidden rule, directly demonstrates this skill. It requires analyzing visual or conceptual data to infer the governing logic.

Question 29: Each step, a square is divided into one more equal section than the step before. Step 1: 2 sections, Step 2: 3 sections. How many sections at Step 7?

7
9
10
8 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 8

Sections = step number + 1, so Step 7 = 7 + 1 = 8.

Question 30: All squares in a test are shaded. Figure X is not shaded. Which conclusion is valid?

Figure X is a circle
Figure X is a triangle
Figure X is not a square (Correct answer)
Figure X has no shape

Correct answer: Figure X is not a square

If all squares are shaded and Figure X is not shaded, then by contrapositive, Figure X cannot be a square.

Abstract Reasoning Aptitude Test

A psychometric aptitude assessment measuring the ability to identify patterns, sequences, and logical relationships in abstract geometric figures without relying on language or prior knowledge. Widely used by employers, civil services, and graduate programs to evaluate fluid intelligence and problem-solving ability.

Questions

20 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
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